Controlling apparatus for metal flowing from blast-furnaces.



J. S. FRASER.

CONTROLLING APPARATUS FOR METAL FLOWING FROM BLAST FURNACES.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 16, 19l5.

Patented Jan. 25, 1916.

INVENTOH.

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THE coLuA mA I'LANOGRAPH co.. WASHINGTON. 0. cv

to branch runners or Janus s; measure, or. CHARLEROI, PENNSYLVANIA.

CONTROLLING APPARATUS METAL FLOWING BLAST-FURNACES.

To all whom 2'25 may concern: I

Be it known that I, James S. FRASER, a citizen of the Dominion of Canada, residing at Charleroi, in the county of Washington and State of Pennsylvania, have invented new and useful Improvements in Controlling Apparatus for Metal Flowing from Blast-Furnaces, specification. I

My invention relates to mechanism for operating the shutters or gates which control the flow of metal from a blast furnace troughs leadingfrom the main trough or runner toladles or pigcasting beds. Heretofore, it has been very uncomfortable and .very dangerous for workmen to operate such gates and break up the dams built up in front of them. It has been proposed to construct railings along the troughs to protect the workmen but these railings have proven such a hindrance to the workmen that they have taken them away.

It is the object of my invention to provide means whereby the gatesmay be operated and the dams broken up from a distant point. I do away entirely with the presence of workmen-for operating the gates and breaking up the dams. My improvement permits the use of protective railings along the troughs or runners. I prefer to bring all the controlling means for the gates to a single point where a singleoperator may control all of the gates. I may employ steam, compressed air, hydraulic pressure, or magnetic power for doing the work of lifting the gates or shutters.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a portion of an apparatus showing a perspective View illustrating the principles of my invention; Fig. 2, a plan View of a portion of Fig. 1; and Fig. 3, a diagrammatic view showing the controlling apparatus for the cylinders which operate the gates or shutters.

On the drawings, 1 designates the main trough, runner, or runway, which conducts the fluid metal from a blast furnace or the like. It is assumed herein that the metal enters the trough l at the upper right-hand portion of Fig. l, or the upper end of Fig. 2.

2 and 3 are branch troughs or runners connected at one end with the main trough 1 and leading therefrom to suitable places for discharging the metal flowing therein to ladles or pig-casting beds or apparatus. The

Specification of Letters Patent. I

of which the following-is a Patented Jan. rare.

Application filediTunelG, 1915. Serial No. 34,373.

main trough may branch runners adapted to the capacity of the blast furnace. The runners :2 and 3 are not shown with the usual spouts for deliveringthe metal to ladles, nor connected to a casting bed since these are well known and need no illustration. Ihave not illustrated some other features, such as skimmers, which-may be used, but they fori -no part of the invention tobe claimed herein. Y

I The trough 1 is provided with a suitable gate or shutter located slightly below or beyond each branch runner. The bottom of each gate or shutter has a toe or dam-breaking lug 5 integral with the same and extend ing in the direction from which the metal flows in the trough. A dam 6 of sand is panked up in front of each gate and on the 11g 5. On the plates 7 which cover the spacesbetween the tops of adjacent runners are secured the. vertical posts 8, there being one post for each gate 4, adjacent thereto. A

are they shown supply any numberof or apparatus,

each post, one end of each lever being pivoted to the top of the adjacent gate, and the other end of each lever being pivoted to the piston-rod 10 working through the top of an adjacent cylinder 11, there being one cylinder for each gate. Each piston-rod is connected to a piston 12 in its respective cylinder. Metal pipes 13 communicate at one end with the cylinders above their pistons, and at the other end with the fluid supply cylinder 14, there being a separate pipe 13 extending from each cylinder 11 to the cylinder 14:. Each pipe 13 has a separate valve 15 to control the passage therethrough of a suitable fluid power, as steam, air, oil, or water, for actuating the pistons and the piston-rods, levers, and thereto. These pipes are placed close together at some convenient place distant from the trough and runners so that the valves 15 can be located in a group where they can be readily operated by a single workman with a minimum change in his position and without danger of his injury.

16 represents a protective railing erected along the trough 1. This railing is not in the way of the workmen and does not hinder the operation of the gates or the removal of the dams in the trough.

The fluid metal comes gate 4 (which is gates connected again turned at been supplied first cylinder 10, is opened, whereupon the fluid pressure from the tank 14 enters the first cylinder 10 and causes the first gate 4 to rise. As this gate rises it breaks up or agitates the sand dam 6 (Fig. 2) in front ofit, thereby permitting the metal stream to fiow down the trough 1, from which it is the'second gate 4 into the branch runner 3. When sufficient metal has to this runner, the operator opens the second valve 15, and fluid pressure flows to the second cylinder 11, thereby causing the second gate 4 to be raised and the metal in the trough 1 to pass therein to the next gate. The operation described is repeated for all the runners to be supplied with metal.

Many changes in the form and arrangement of the parts shown and described may be made withoutdeparting from the spiritof myiinvention.

I claim- 7 1. The combination with an open trough for the passage of molten metal from a blast furnace having a branch runner communicating therewith, of a gate located in the trough behind the branch runner, a toe carried by the gate for breaking the dam banked in front of the said gate, power mechanism for operating the gate, and means arranged remotely of the trough for controlling the gate operating mechanism.

2. The combination with a trough for the passage of molten metal from a blast furnace having a branch runner communicating" therewith, of a gate located in the trough behind the branch runner, dam breaking means connected with the gate for breaking the dam banked in front of said gate, mechanism for operating the gate, and means arranged remotely of the trough for controlling the gate operating mechanism.

3. The combination with a trough for the passage of molten metalfroma blast furnace having a branch runner communicating therewith, of a gate located in the trough behind 'thebranch runner, dam breaking meansconnected with the gate for breaking the dam in front of the trough when the said gate is raised and means gate.

4. The combination with a trough for the passage of molten metal from a blast furnace having a branch runner communicating therewith, atoe connected by said gate and projecting therefrom for breaking the dam banked in front of thegate when the gate is raised, and means for'raising and lowering the gate.

Signed at Pittsburgh, Pa., this 14th day of June, A. 13.1915. I

JAMES s. FRASER.

copies of this patent may be obtained for'five cents each,'by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

' Washington, D. C.

for operating the 

